Patient Advisory: Beware of Fraudulent Certification Services

We want to make you aware that our office has received reports of businesses falsely posing as certifying medical providers. These individuals are collecting payments from patients for medical cannabis certifications but are not submitting the required applications—and, in many cases, are not returning the money.

To protect yourself:

  • Always verify that a medical provider is registered with our office and authorized to certify patients. You can contact us directly for confirmation.
  • Always request a receipt for any payments you make.
  • Use secure payment methods (e.g., credit cards) instead of cash whenever possible.

If you believe you have been a victim of this type of scam, please report it to our office as well as the DCCA Office of Consumer Protection.

Your safety and trust are important to us. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at medicalcannabis@doh.hawaii.gov or (808) 733-2177 if you have any questions or need assistance.

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Dispensary Rules effective December 6, 2024, interim rules, Chapter 11-850, HAR)

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Hawaii Hemp Task Force

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Retail dispensary locations in Hawaii

Advisories

If you are planning on acquiring medical cannabis from a dispensary, you must have 1) your valid 329 card, and 2) valid state ID, valid state driver’s license, or valid passport on your person to gain entry.

The Hawaii Department of Health is responsible for administering two distinct but related medical cannabis programs.

  • Medical Cannabis Patient Registry Program
  • Medical Cannabis Dispensary Program

Both are designed to ensure medical cannabis is accessible for Hawaii’s patients, while making patient safety and public safety its ultimate priorities.

Hemp buttonJoin us for a free educational event designed for Hawai‘i’s medical cannabis patients! Learn about the science of cannabis, safe use practices, and how it can support your health and wellness. Hear from three professional cannabis-educated healthcare providers and get the opportunity to ask your questions. Attend in person or join us online. This event is open to registered 329 patients and their caregivers.

The dates are as follows:

  • June 28th in Hilo
  • August 16th on Kauai
  • October 18th on Maui

Please click on the Blue Button below for more information about each program.

REgistry button

Medical Cannabis

Patient Registry Program

Hawaii law requires all qualified patients to be registered with the Medical Cannabis Patient Registry Program before they begin to use cannabis for medicinal purposes. The registration process begins when:

  1. A license Physician or Advanced practice registered nurse certifies the health condition can benefit from medical cannabis
  2. Patient creates and registers with the DOH medmj.ehawaii.gov account
  3. DOH reviews, approves and issues a 329 Registration Card

DOH’s goal is to issue the patient’s 329 Registration Card in a timely manner so that patients can begin or continue to legally use medical cannabis.
DOH is required to provide law enforcement officials with limited access to the Medical Cannabis Registry Program’s database as a tool to safeguard the community against illegal cannabis use and/or illegal cannabis grow sites.

Dispesary

Medical Cannabis

Dispensary Program

The Hawaii Department of Health’s Dispensary Licensing program monitor’s the quality of the cannabis products from seed to sale. This includes statewide oversight of the laboratories that test the safety and quality of the cannabis and manufactured cannabis products, and monitoring of the dispensaries who will grow, manufacture, and sell the products to qualified patients.
Act 241 was signed into law in July 2015 and became Chapter 329D, HRS.  The Hawaii Department of Health will begin administering the Medical Cannabis Dispensary Program in 2016 and dispensaries may begin to dispense medical cannabis and manufactured medical cannabis products as early as July 2016 with departmental approval.
Medical cannabis has been legal in Hawaii since 2000, but access to medical cannabis remained a challenge.  Patients and caregivers could legally grow their own cannabis plants within certain parameters.  Advocates of medical cannabis have hailed the dispensary program as a major breakthrough. The goal of the dispensary licensure program is to make medicinal products readily available for registered patients while balancing the health and safety of patients and the public.
Dispensary Applicants, be sure to regularly check Dispensary Updates (on the left side of this page) for information on dispensary licensing requirements, frequently asked questions (FAQ), and other valuable updates.

Hemp button

The Office of Medical Cannabis Control and Regulation (OMCCR) has been tasked by the Department of Health to regulate the processing of hemp into cannabinoid containing hemp products and their sale to consumers in Hawaii. Click the link above for access to information on how to obtain a hemp processor permit, guidance documents for industry and the public and applicable laws and interim rules.